📖 Chapter 8 – Balancing Worlds
The clatter of typewriters echoed faintly through the University corridors. Students rushed between classes, clutching notes and books.
Arjun adjusted his worn backpack and walked into his computer science lecture. The classroom smelled of chalk dust and machine oil.
"Ah, Mr. Mehra," Professor Iyer said as Arjun slipped into his seat. "Late again?"
Arjun offered a small smile. "Had to help at home, sir."
The professor frowned but didn't press further. Most teachers knew about his family's condition. They saw him as a bright but distracted boy from a poor household, unlikely to go far.
Around him, classmates chattered about exams, cricket matches, and the latest movies. Some teased him for wearing the same faded shirts, others ignored him altogether.
But Arjun wasn't listening. His mind was already running calculations. Three more days to deliver the e-commerce project. If I succeed, I'll clear Ananya's fees and save the rest. After that… stock market.
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The Grind
After classes, he skipped hanging out at the canteen and went straight to the internet café. The owner gave him a knowing look.
"Back again, Arjun? You live here more than you live at home."
Arjun grinned faintly. "Home doesn't have broadband, uncle."
For hours, he typed furiously. Lines of code flowed across the screen as the Nanochip enhanced his memory, pointing out errors instantly. What would take an experienced developer weeks, he handled in days.
By nightfall, his body was sore, but the prototype site was nearly complete.
> [System Scan: Project Completion – 80%. Client Satisfaction Probability – 95%.]
Arjun leaned back, exhaling. "Just a little more."
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The Factory Crisis
When he returned home, the house was silent. His father sat slumped in the corner, face dark with worry.
"They've announced layoffs," Ramesh said hollowly. "Half the workers… gone. My name is on the list."
Savitri gasped, covering her mouth. "Ramesh!"
Arjun's fists clenched. He had known it was coming, but hearing it aloud still stung. His father—who had worked for decades, sacrificing every dream—discarded like scrap metal.
"Papa," Arjun said quietly. "Don't worry. I'll take care of us now."
Ramesh barked a bitter laugh. "You? You're just a boy in college. How will you feed this family? Sell dreams?"
Arjun didn't reply. In his past life, he had sold dreams. Now, he would sell futures—futures no one else could see.
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Campus Doubts
The next day, at the University library, two classmates whispered as he passed.
"Mehra's always at that café. Probably wasting money chatting online."
"Yeah, look at his clothes. Poor guy will end up begging for a job after graduation."
Arjun ignored them, finding a corner table. He spread out his notes, but instead of algorithms, he scribbled numbers: Sensex 2001 → Infosys ₹450 → future 2020 → ₹7000+.
If I buy even 100 shares now…
The Nanochip pulsed.
> [Task Update: Initial Investment Window Approaching. Trading Account Registration Required. Suggested Brokerage Firms: ICICI Direct, Kotak Securities.]
Arjun smiled faintly. Step one: get a trading account. Step two: fund it. Step three: ride the wave.
His classmates thought he was scribbling nonsense. They couldn't see the storm he was about to unleash.
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A Glimmer of Hope
That weekend, Arjun submitted the final code to his foreign client. Hours later, the confirmation came:
Payment Received: $500 (â‚ą24,000).
His hands trembled slightly as he stared at the balance. In this town, it was a small fortune.
He immediately paid Ananya's school fees and bought a month's groceries. His mother cried silently, hugging him.
Ramesh watched, conflicted. "Where is all this money coming from, Arjun?"
Arjun met his eyes. "From the future, Papa. I'm building something… you'll see."
That night, Arjun sat under the veranda again, the radio crackling with talk of reforms, elections, and foreign investment.
He closed his eyes, whispering to himself.
"This is just the beginning. Next, I'll open my trading account. The Indian market is about to explode… and I'll be at the heart of it."
The stars above seemed to flicker brighter, as if they too could sense the rise of a new titan.
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🔥 End of Chapter 8 Cliffhanger